Phew - one more day of work this week

February 23, 2007

This week has been busy, busy as I get caught up at work (and we are still short-staffed).  The wait-listing for our program is now at 20 and there were three more inquiries today.  I want to be back on holiday even though I am happy to be home!  After three weeks of adventure, I am in the throes of mega-work and low-level panic as I have to write an article (it is late), a past student wants a recommendation in the mail by Saturday and the biggy:  looming tax preparation.  This is the first year I am completing the corporate tax form and it is making me anxious and a full-scale headache ensues when I consider what will be entailed in doing my personal taxes with being self-employed some of the year as well as figuring out moving deductions.  Seems like it is back to nose-to-the-grindstone (according to "The Phrase Finder" at http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/217200.html the most likely origin of this expression comes "from the practice of knife grinders when sharpening blades to bend over the stone, or even to lie flat on their fronts, with their faces near the grindstone in order to hold the blades against the stone" and "that all the early citations refer to holding someone’s nose to the grindstone as a form of punishment").  Yup, this is how it feels after a three week vacation.

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the cheapest house in squamish at the moment







The Description

This rancher is in need of repair and TLC, but is easy walking distance to all ammenities downtown Squamish has to offer. All measurements to be verified. LS must be contacted proir to showing.

Price: $265,000   MLS® #V619181

Bathrooms: 1
Bedrooms: 2
Heating: Electricity
Parking: Garage
Age: 51 years
Floor space: 742

 

Just to give you the reader an idea about housing costs here.  I drove by this property and basically you are buying the lot as it needs mucho trabajo.

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LIRAs in Ontario

As I have a Locked-In Registered Account (LIRA), I am interested in the below proposed changes.  If Ontario and British Columbia do not change the rules on LIRAs, which are very restrictive, I (like many others I suspect) will be moving to Saskatchewan or Manitoba for my retirement.

From http://hansardindex.ontla.on.ca/hansardeissue/38-2/l140.htm

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

PENSION PLANS


Mr. Robert W. Runciman (Leeds-Grenville): Today I’m calling on the McGuinty Liberal government to allow Ontarians to have full access to their, and I emphasize "their," locked-in retirement savings accounts. Four of the provinces in Canada have opened up access to the principal in these accounts, ranging from 25% in New Brunswick, to 50% in Alberta, to 100% in Saskatchewan, and soon to be 100% in Manitoba.

Under current Ontario rules, our residents can only access the principal in their accounts if they can prove to a government board dire financial or health need through a bureaucratic appeal process. The only exceptions to this rule are current and former members of this assembly who had their defined benefit pensions terminated and rolled into locked-in accounts. Those members, and I’m one of them, can access 100% of the principal. This is wrong and needs to be corrected. There should not be two classes of citizens for pension rules, and the time is long overdue for government to cease its paternalistic "We know what’s best" approach to Ontario retirees.

Premier and members of the Liberal government, I urge you to move quickly to allow Ontarians full access to their locked-in pensions.

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Website Explaining the Tysabri TOUCH Program (Elan/BiogenIdec therapy for MS)

Tysabri is now available in Canada.

Below is from Lauren whose blog is at http://lauren-livingwithms-aolcomlglbgl2003.blogspot.com/

————————————————————————–

Website Explaining the Tysabri TOUCH Program
« Thread Started on Nov 7, 2006, 9:43pm »


 For true and accurate information about Tysabri, please see: www.mspatientsforchoice.org/.

I also wish to post add’l information here, as I find I’m having to re-type over and over again some of the information below in separate threads here, and hopefully this should alleviate the problem somewhat for my numb hands, so here goes:

www.mspatientsforchoice.org/ is an all volunteer nonprofit group. Our group was formed by MS patients following the February 2005 temporary withdrawal of Tysabri to evaluate the issues raised by the three cases of PML in Tysabri clinical trial patients (two in "MS"[1] patients with the combination of Avonex and Tysabri, and one in a Crohn’s patient with a history of using strong immuno-suppressant drugs — such as Azathioprine/Imuran for 6 years), for the purpose of providing accurate Tysabri information, and to push FDA to re-approve Tysabri for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis as soon as possible to meet the substantial unmet medical need among MS patients.

In case any of you are wondering, our group is not affiliated with, and has no support from, any drug company. Since the re-approval of Tysabri, our role has evolved to include assisting MS patients with obtaining insurance reimbursement for Tysabri equivalent to that available for the "less effective older generation MS drugs [2]", and fostering the development of even more effective MS drugs.

Much incorrect information has been circulated and passed on to MS patients by various means (Tysabri’s competitors, the media, neurologists, other patients, etc.), and our website seeks to clear up most of this misinformation, including helping MS patients make a fully informed choice regarding their MS therapy in consultation with their neurologist. See Tysabri’s proven superior efficacy in preventing new and further relapses & cumulative disability, reducing existing lesion load, improving disabilities and improving the MS patient’s Quality of Life [3].

Specifically, regarding the risk of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) — a rare brain disease, a patient cannot "catch" PML. From studies done, it is caused by the JC Virus, which normally lies dormant in the kidneys in 70% to 80% of the general population — MS patients included. When the JC Virus is released into the bloodstream — thought to be caused by a dimished (severely compromised) immune system [4], it is then when PML can develop. Note: out of the 3,000 Tysabri trial patients plus the 5,000 general population patients between 11/04-2/05 , with a confirmed diagnosis of MS and without a compromised immune system who received Tysabri as a monotherapy, not one single case of PML was reported, i.e., a risk factor of 0:8000 patients.

No drug is without risk, including aspirin. The FDA approved the T.O.U.C.H. Program (Tysabri Outreach Unified Commitment to Health) to minimize the risk of PML (which has actually been shown to be associated with other drugs as well). Our website also has information to help assist other MS patients (if needed) with TOUCH-related questions or problems that might be encountered.

Relapsing forms of MS may include those with relapsing-remitting MS, progressive-relapsing MS, and those with secondary-progressive MS who experience relapses.

Per Dr. Richard Katz of the FDA, following the March 7 and 8, 2006 FDA Tysabri Advisory Committee hearings in a conference call, clarified that Tysabri has been approved as a first line and/or second line MS therapy. Tysabri is indicated for use as a monotherapy, meaning it should not be used in combination with other immune system modifying drugs, and is for patients who have not responded adequately to, or cannot tolerate [e.g., needle phobic patients or those with injection site reactions or flu-like symptoms from the older generation MS drugs], other treatments for MS[5].

This is further evidenced by the Tysabri label which states: "TYSABRI® is indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis to delay the accumulation of physical disability and reduce the frequency of clinical exacerbations."

Please visit our website www.mspatientsforchoice.org/ for further Tysabri information, including a short video explaining how Tysabri works, as well as providing an explanation of the TOUCH Program protocol, with responses to frequent questions raised, as many of our members (myself included) were among the first MS patients to actually experience going through the TOUCH Program/RiskMap, and provide solutions to many of the initial frustrations encountered. Please also feel free to contact us at admin@mspatientsforchoice.org "Contact Us" link at the top of our Home Page should you have further questions, comments, or need assistance with regard to Tysabri.

For a very thorough discussion of MS and the various treatments available, see:

http://doodah95.blogspot.com/2006/08/so-you-want-to-know-bit-about-tysabri.htm

No matter which MS therapy you choose, it is your choice.

All my very best wishes to each of you..take care,

Lauren :D


Footnotes
[1] Woman misdiagnosed with MS and enrolled in Tysabin clinical trial dies
[2] NEJM Volume 354:965-967 March 2, 2006 Number 9
[3] NEJM 2006 Mar 2;354(9):899-910 and information at MS Patients For Choice
[4] Medline Abstract-Neurol Res, Apr 1, 2006; 28(3): 291-8.
[5] http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01380.html
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Ten Mothers Garlic and Spinach Soup – Recipe

Ten Mothers Garlic and Spinach Soup – Recipe
Adapted from The Roasted Vegetable, by Andrea Chesman (Harvard Common Press, 2002).

This delicious broth, redolent with garlic and enriched with the vitamins and minerals of fresh spinach, takes its name from an old folk saying that garlic is as good as ten mothers.

 


This soup is not only tasty and nourishing, it makes a comforting remedy for winter sniffles and sneezes.

INGREDIENTS
2 heads garlic
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
5 cups good-quality vegetable broth
4 cups chopped fresh spinach leaves, tough stems discarded.

Preheat oven to 425.

Remove the outer papery covering of the garlic. Slice off the top of each head so most of the cloves are exposed. Place on a square of aluminum foil for easy cleanup, or select the smallest baking dish you have. Drizzle 1 teaspoon oil over each head. Fold the foil over the garlic to completely enclose it, or cover the baking dish with foil.

Roast for about 45 minutes, until the garlic is completely soft and lightly browned.

When cool enough to handle, squeeze the garlic pulp into a medium-sized saucepan. Add the broth and stir well to combine. Simmer for 15 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.

Just before serving, stir in the spinach and simmer until wilted, about 4 minutes. Stir vigorously (the garlic has tendency to settle out.)

Serve hot.

Serves 2 to 4.

from http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/food/622

This looks very tasty!

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